Calculating or indicating device



Nov- 26, 0- c. R. GULBRANSEN 2,222,661

CALCULATING OR INDICATING DEVICE Filed April 15, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PULL HEQE PULL HERE EAtC-UL5k6% NET PRICE CALCULATOR Ll ST PE RCENTS OF DISCOU PRICE LI ST PERCE Nrs OF Dxscoum's PERCENTS OF mscoum-s PE QCENTS OF DISCOUNTS 5% la}:

L1 5T PERCENTS OFDISCOUNTS PRICE MST PERCENTS OF DISCOUNTS PULL HERE PULL HERE PULL HERE Mam Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to calculating or indicating devices comprising two or more card-like members slidably associated and in lapped relation with means for retaining the members in said relation. One object of my invention is to provide a device of the aforesaid type which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to make, compact in form and yet have a large quantity of tabulated data any line of which may be quickly exposed along a reading guide for ready reference.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved devices of the type mentioned having weights of materials, prices, dimensions, specifications, capacities, catalog numbers, characteristics of materials and an infinite variety of data tabulated for quick reference on both the obverse and reverse faces of each of the card-like members. Preferably each device will carry one set of related tabulated data.

In its preferred form my improved device comprises front and rear card-like members with one or more such members placed therebetween and the members are preferably maintained in the desired lapping and sliding relation by band means carried by the front member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member in combination with band means carried by the rear member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member. It is a further object of my invention to arrange the parts so that the band means extending over the obverse face of the front member and the band means extending over the reverse face of the rear member will serve as reading guides for data thereon while the lapping edge of each member sliding over the face of the member adjacent thereto will serve as a reading guide for the data on such adjacent face.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of a certain preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Fig. 1 is a front view of a calculating device comprising front, rear and intermediate card-like members in fully lapped relation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device with the members so arranged that the data on the obverse face of the front member is partially exposed and the data on the obverse face of the intermediate member is fully exposed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the device with the members arranged so that the data on the obverse face of the intermediate member is not exposed and the data on the obverse face of the rear member is fully exposed;

Fig. 4 is a rear View of the device with the parts in fully lapped relation, the data on the reverse side of the rear member being fully exposed;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the parts so arranged that the data on the reverse side of the rear member is partially exposed and the data on the reverse side of the intermediate member is fully exposed;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the parts so arranged that the data on the reverse side of the intermediae member is not exposed and the data on the reverse side of the front member is fully exposed;

Fig. 7 is a face view of a blank suitable for making either the front or rear member;

Fig. 8 is a face View of a blank suitable for serving as one of the intermediate members;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line Hl-|ll of Fig. 4.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

The embodiment of my invention herein illustrated comprises, what may be termed, a front member A, an intermediate member 13, and a rear member C, the obverse faces of said members being exposed in Whole or in part in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, while the reverse faces of said members are similarly exposed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. It will be noted that in placing the device in the position shown in Fig. 4 it is reversed or turned end for end with respect to the position shown in Fig. 1. The members A, B and C are of card-like form and may be made of any suitable material such as cardboard, metal, celluloid, or other plastic sheet-like material. Data of any desired nature, such as Weights of various materials, prices of goods, dimensions of lumber, capacities of containers, specifications of materials, catalog numbers of articles, etc., are placed in tabulated form on both the obverse and reverse faces of each of the members A, B and C, The data may be printed or otherwise produced directly on the faces of said members or it may be produced on sheets of paper or the like and attached to said faces.

The members may be retained in slidable and lapped relation by any suitable means. Preferably the front member A adjacent its lapping edge carries band-like means which extends around the side edges of the members B and C and over the reverse face of the member C. Likewise, the member C carries band-like means which extends around the side edges of the members B and A and over the obverse face of the member A. A blank D from which the member A may be made is shown in Fig. 7. The blank is provided with band portions DI and D2. The band portion DI is folded along the line a: and extends loosely around the right side edges of the members B and C and then transversely over the reverse face of the member C; the band portion D2 is then folded along the lines y loosely around the left side edges of the members B and A and then is attached by means of a suitable adhesive to the obverse face of the member A. The member C may be made also of a blank, similar to the blank D, to provide a band portion EI extending loosely around the right side edges of the members B and A and then transversely over the obverse face of the member A, with the extension thereof constituting the band portion E2, extending loosely around the left side edges of the members A and B and then being attached by a suitable adhesive to the reverse face of the member C. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting sliding movement of one member relative to the others. I prefer to provide laterally extending ear portions AI on the member A, ear portions BIB2 on the member B and ear portions CI on the member C. A blank Bb suitable for making the intermediate members B is shown in Fig. 8.

The device illustrated in the drawings is intended to serve as a rapid net price calculator. The band portions EI and D2, and the lower edge of the obverse face of the member B are provided with headings as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The obverse faces of the members A, B and C carry in one column list prices from 10 to from $1 to $1.95, and from $2 to $2.95, respectively. Transversely across said faces in columns under the discounts specified in said headings appear the net prices. Referring now to Figs. 4 to 6 it will be seen that similar headings appear on the band portions DI and E2, and on the lower lapping edge of the reverse face of the member B. On the reverse faces of the members C, B and A appear list prices running from $3 to $3.95, from $4 to $4.95, and from $5 to $5.95, respectively. Transversely across said reverse faces in columns under the discounts specified in the headings last mentioned appear the net prices.

The manner in which the device may be used will be readily apparent. When the members are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, it may be noted that when a list price of 10 is subject to a discount of 20% the net price is 8. With the parts arranged as shown in Fig. 2, one may readily observe that the net price of an article listed at $1 subject to a 25% discount is 75. When the members are arranged as shown in Fig. 3, one may readily observe that a list price of $2 subject to a 15% discount is $1.70 net. In a similar manner the net price of any article subject to a specified discount listed to sell at from $3 to $5.95 may be readily ascertained when the device is turned end for end and the parts are arranged as shown in Figs. 4 to 6. It is apparent, therefore, from Figs. 1 to 3 that the band portion El serves as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of the member A, the

band portion D2 a reading guide for data on the obverse face of the member B, and the lapping edge of the member B a reading guide for data on the obverse face of the member C. It is also apparent from Figs. 4 to 6, that the band portion DI functions as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of the member C, the band portion E2 a reading guide for data on the reverse face of the member B and the lapping edge of the member B a reading guide for data on the reverse face of the member A. It will be obvious that any number of intermediate members B may be used as desired, and that the lower edge of each of said members may be used as a reading guide for data on the surface of the member over which it slides.

The advantages of my improved device may be summarized as follows:

1. Both surfaces of each card-like member are available for data in tabulated form, there being no unexposed or wasted surfaces as in devices of, the envelope or center slide type;

2. My device readily lends itself to a greater condensation of tabulated data and yet the data may be easily read because relatively small print may be used and the lines thereof may be closer together due to the reading guides provided for each surface of the card-like members and because of the total absence of shadows due to the use of straight reading guides instead of small windows which are frequently employed in envelope type of devices;

3. In the operation of my devices several rows of data are exposed at one time and the operator may set more quickly the reading guide at any desired line than would be possible with an enclosed type of device where only one line at a time is exposed;

4. The multiple card-like arrangement makes it possible to tabulate a great number of lines .of printed matter and yet maintain the devices in pocket-size dimensions; and

5. My improved devices are economical. to produce especially in large quantities where the card-like members may be cut rapidly by means of suitable dies.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the specific construction shown and described except only insofar as certain .of the claims may be so limited as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, the combination of a plurality of card-like members slidably associated in lapped relation, means for retaining said members in said relation, each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces, said members comprising first and second groups with at least one member in each group, the lapping edge of one member of said first group serving as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of one member of said second group, the lapping edge of one member of said second group serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said first group, means carried by one member of said first group and serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said second group, and means carried by one member of said second group and serving as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of one member of said first group.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a plurality of card-like members slidably associated in lapped relation, means for retaining said members in said relation, means for limiting sliding movement between said members, each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces, said members comprising first and second groups with at least one member in each group, the lapping edge of one members of said first group serving as a reading guide for data on the observe face of one member of said second group, the lapping edge of one member of said second group serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said first group, means carried by one member of said first group and serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said second group, and means carried by one member of said second group and serving as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of one member of said first group.

3. In a device of the type described; the combination of a plurality of card-like members slidably associated in lapped relation; each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces; said members comprising first and second groups with at least one member in each group; one of said members being at the front and another of said members at the rear; means for retaining said members in the aforesaid relation comprising band means carried by the front member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member, and band means carried by the rear member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member; 'said band means serving as reading guides for data on said reverse and obverse faces respectively; the lapping edge of one member of said first group serving as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of one member of said second group; and the lapping edge of one member of said second group serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said first group.

l. In a device of the type described; the combination of a plurality of card-like members slidably associated in lapped relation; each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces; said members comprising first and second groups with at least one member in each group; one of said members being at the front and another of said members at the rear; means for retaining said members in the aforesaid relation comprising band means carried by the front member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member, and band means carried by the rear member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member; said band means serving as reading guides for data on said reverse and obverse faces respectively; the lapping edge of one member of said first group serving as a reading guide for data on the obverse face of one member of said second group; the lapping edge of one member of said second group serving as a reading guide for data on the reverse face of one member of said first group; and means for limiting sliding movement between said members.

5. In a device of the type described, the combination of front and rear members and a member intermediate thereto all of card-like form and slidably associated in lapped relation, means for retaining said members in said relation, each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces, the lapping edges of the front and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the obverse faces of the respective members over which they slide, the lapping edges of the rear and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the reverse faces of the respective members over Which they slide, means carried by said front member and extending over the reverse face of said rear member and serving as a reading guide for the data thereon, and means carried by said rear member and extending over the obverse face of the front member and serving as a reading guide for the data thereon.

6. In a device of the type described, the combination of front and rear members and a member intermediate thereto all of card-like form and slidably associated in lapped relation, means for retaining said members in said relation, means for limiting sliding movement between said members, each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces, the lapping edges of the front and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the obverse faces of the respective members over which they slide, the lapping edges of the rear and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the reverse faces of the respective members over which they slide, means carried by said front member and extending over the reverse face of said rear member and. serving as a reading guide for the data thereon, and means carried by said rear member and extending over the obverse face of the front member and serving as a reading guide for the data thereon.

'7. In a device of the type described; the combination of front and rear members and a member intermediate thereto all of card-like form and slidably associated in lapped relation; each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces; means for retaining said members in the aforesaid relation comprising band means carried by the front member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member, and band means carried by the rear member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member; said band means serving as reading guides for data on said reverse and obverse faces respectively; the lapping edges of the front and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the obverse faces of the respective members over which they slide; and the lapping edges of the rear and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the reverse faces of the respective members over which they slide.

8. In a device of the type described; the combination of front and rear members and a member intermediate thereto all of card-like form and slidably associated in lapped relation; each of said members carrying data on its obverse and reverse faces; means for retaining said members in the aforesaid relation comprising band means carried by the front member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member, and band means carried by the rear member adjacent its lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member; said band means serving as reading guides for data on said reverse and obverse faces respectively; the lapping edges of the front and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the obverse faces of the respective members over which they slide; the lapping edges of the rear and intermediate members serving as reading guides for the data on the reverse faces of the respective members over which they slide; and means for limiting sliding movement between said members.

9. In a device of the type described, the combination of two card-like front and rear members slidably associated in lapped relation, band means carried by the front member adjacent its inner or lapping edge and extending over the reverse face of the rear member, band means carried by the rear member adjacent its inner or lapping edge and extending over the obverse face of the front member, and ears carried by said front and rear members adjacent their outer ends for engaging the band means carried by said front and rear members respectively for limiting relative movement between and retaining said members in operative relation.

10. In a device of the type described, the combination of front and rear members and a member intermediate thereto all of card-like form and slidably associated in lapped relation, band means carried by the front member adjacent its inner or lapping edge and extending around the side edges of the intermediate member and over the reverse face of the rear member, band means carried by the rear member adjacent its inner or lapping edge and extending around the side edges of the intermediate member and over the obverse face of the front member, and ears carried by said front, intermediate and rear members adjacent their outer ends for engaging the band means carried by said rear and front members respectively for limiting relative movement between and retaining said members in operative relation.

CAPRON R. GULBRANSEN. 

